Russia rejects threats to ensure Syria disarms

Wednesday

Sep 11, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Associated Press

BEIRUT - The U.S. and France on Tuesday pushed for a tough United Nations resolution to ensure Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime turns over its chemical weapons stockpile, but Assad's ally Russia demanded the West take the threat of force off the table if Damascus fails to meet its promises. The diplomatic split threatened a deal that could avert American strikes against Syria.

Assad's government promised Tuesday to cooperate fully with the Russian plan, which calls for Syria to put its chemical weapons under international control, for eventual destruction.

Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem told Lebanon's Al-Mayadeen TV that Syria would place its chemical weapons locations in the hands of representatives of Russia, "other countries" and the United Nations. He promised his country also would declare its long secret chemical arsenal, stop producing such weapons and sign conventions against them.

Wary that Damascus is only seeking to avoid U.S. military action, Washington and France said they seek strong U.N. language to enforce the Russian plan. France said it would put forward a draft resolution to make it enforceable with military action, which met swift opposition from Russia.

Poll: Concerns rise over privacy erosion

WASHINGTON - Following disclosures about the National Security Agency's massive surveillance programs, a majority of Americans believe the U.S. government is doing a poor job of protecting privacy rights, according to a new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Close to 60 percent of Americans oppose the NSA's collection of data on telephone and Internet usage. A similar majority opposes the legal process supervised by a secret federal court overseeing federal classified surveillance.

The American public remains anxious about terrorism as the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches. About 6 in 10 Americans feel it is sometimes necessary to sacrifice rights to confront terrorism.

But suspicions about the government's promises to protect civil liberties have deepened since 2011. Only 53 percent now said the government does a good job of ensuring freedoms, compared to 60 percent two years ago.

Police release video of Zimmerman

LAKE MARY, Fla. - Police have released a dash cam video of George Zimmerman being handcuffed after his estranged wife called 911 and said he was threatening her with a gun.

The video released Tuesday shows officers ordering Zimmerman out of his truck. They tell him to put his hands up and drop to his knees. Two officers approach him. One of them has a gun drawn while the other handcuffs Zimmerman.

Police are investigating whether George Zimmerman or Shellie Zimmerman should be charged after the dispute Monday. Shellie Zimmerman told a 911 dispatcher George Zimmerman threatened her with a gun, but later said she didn't see a gun.

Report finds crisis in cancer care

WASHINGTON - The U.S. is facing a crisis in how to deliver cancer care, as the baby boomers reach their tumor-prone years and doctors have a hard time keeping up with complex new treatments, government advisers reported Tuesday.

The caution comes even as scientists are learning more than ever about better ways to battle cancer, and developing innovative therapies to target tumors.

And while doctors try to optimize treatment, the Institute of Medicine found "daunting" barriers to achieving high-quality care for all patients. Overcoming the challenges will require changes to the health care system, and savvier consumers.

The study said decisions about cancer treatments too often aren't based on good evidence, and patients may not understand their choices and what to expect, the panel found. For example, some studies suggest two-thirds or more of cancer patients with poor prognoses incorrectly believe the treatments they receive could cure them.

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